Prunus maackii

Prunus maackii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Subgenus: Padus[1]
Species: P. maacki
Binomial name
Prunus maackii
Rupr.
Synonyms

Padus maackii (Rupr.) Komarov

Prunus maackii, commonly called the Manchurian cherry or Amur chokecherry, is a species of cherry native to Korea and both banks of the Amur River, in Manchuria in northeastern China, and Amur Oblast and Primorye in southeastern Russia.[2][3]

Bark on a cultivated plant

It is a deciduous tree growing to 4–10 m tall. The bark on young trees is very distinct, smooth, glossy bronze-yellow, but becoming fissured and dull dark grey-brown with age. The leaves are alternate, ovate, 4–8 cm long and 2.8–5 cm broad, with a pubescent 1–1.5 cm petiole, and an entire or very finely serrated margin; they are dark green above, slightly paler and pubescent on the veins below. The flowers produced on erect spikes 5–7 cm long, each flower 8–10 mm diameter, with five white petals. The fruit is a small cherry-like drupe 5–7 mm diameter, green at first, turning first red then dark purple or black at maturity. Flowering is in mid spring, with the fruit ripe in early summer to early autumn.[2][4]

It was named after Richard Karlovich Maack (1825-1886) who discovered it, and described by Ruprecht in Bull. Cl. Phys.-Math. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg 15: 361 (1857).[3][5]

Cultivation and uses

It is grown as an ornamental tree in northern Europe and North America, mainly for its decorative bark. It prefers sunshine and moist (but drained) soil, and is tolerant of severe winter cold, but not heat. The fruit has been used in the manufacture of juice, jelly and jam.[4][5][6] Specimens in cultivation have been measured to 17 m tall and 90 cm trunk diameter.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Rehder, A. 1940, reprinted 1977. Manual of cultivated trees and shrubs hardy in North America exclusive of the subtropical and warmer temperate regions. Macmillan publishing Co., Inc, New York.
  2. 1 2 Flora of China: Padus maackii
  3. 1 2 Germplasm Resources Information Network: Prunus maackii
  4. 1 2 Mitchell, A. F. (1974). Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-212035-6.
  5. 1 2 Anon (1986). Notes and Quotes on the History and Origins of the Amur Chokecherry (Prunus maackii). Arnoldia 46 (2): 13–24. Available online (pdf file).
  6. ↑ USDA Plants Profile: Prunus maackii
  7. ↑ Tree Register of the British Isles.
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